Yellowlegs and Great Blue

An overcast, quiet morning. Low tide in the marsh attracted two Greater Yellowlegs into the muddy verges of the pond but they were spooked by the arrival of at least two Great Blue Herons. Instead of landing in the marsh however, Great Blue #1 went for a roost in the trees back of the marsh and then noisily attacked the second bird when it attempted to do the same. Angry Great Blue growls continued to resonate all for much of the morning; apparently these birds are somewhat territorial in what has to be an off-season or winter range.

Flycatchers have appeared in several different places and they all seem to be Eastern Wood-pewees with dark or mottled breasts and a somewhat peaked or crested head. The daily Ruby-throated Hummingbird as well.

Evening Primroses are blooming along with Salt Marsh Asters and a lot of Sea Lavender. Also a delicate goldenrod that I think is Slender Fragrant Goldenrod and one of the everlastings -- I always called it Pearly Everlasting although now I'm not so sure.

Eric Salzman

is she or isn't she?

The Invasion of the Hairy is now playing locally. No, not Hairy Apes or Hairy Mastodons but Hairy Woodpeckers. The Hairy is a bigger version of our common Downy Woodpecker and has always been a woodland woodpecker around here. But since Irene and Sandy left so much standing dead wood on our place, the Hairy has become almost as common as its junior partner. It is distinctly bigger than its cousin and a good look as its substantial beak will usually tell you which woody is which. Even easier is the call which is usually a single loud and sharp "Peek". Downies generally give a rattle call and a drum roll while Hairies are more likely to give that sharp single call and instead of a drum roll they seem to prefer a softer, more irregular series of taps.

This morning's birds were similar to yesterdays but with fewer species and fewer individuals. The only new element was a Yellowlegs calling from somewhere on the creek and, no, I don't know which Yellowlegs it was (easier to distinguish the two woodpeckers than the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs).

The fellow illustrated above appeared on the side of the house this afternoon. I think it must be a female katydid (the oviposter being that strange curved scimitar-like appendage on one side) looking for a place to lay its eggs!? This has been a very bad year for Fireflies but a great year for Common Kaydids; their nighttime chorus is positively deafening and continues most of the night. This is a creature that we hear for most of the summer but very rarely see. Assuming, of course, that it really is a Katydid.

almost 4 dozen

Cool weather overnight brought in migrants this morning. The following list includes new arrivals along with birds that have been here in recent weeks. Most of these birds were seen on the creek, by the edge of the pond, on the edge of the marsh or at the head of the marsh.

Double-crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk (the object of this morning's Murder of Crows)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher (the only large flycatcher missing from the flycatcher invasion last week)
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch ('Carolina Nuthatch' if current proposal to split the nuthatches goes through)
House Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Black-and-white Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Scarlet Tanager (female or young)
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole (many young birds)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Nothing unusual but 46 species in less than 2 hours.

Eric Salzman

hummingbirds, swallows and terns

It seems to me that there can be little doubt that we had nesting hummers this year. I've seen them almost every day all summer long, in two distinct areas and, on several occasions, in pairs that appeared to be juveniles. This suggests that there were two nests and that at least one of them successfully produced the standard hummingbird twins (hummingbirds nearly always have two young). We have at least one neighbor on Randall Lane who has a hummingbird feeder but I have never seen a hummer at that feeder although there are hummers in the general area. Perhaps they feed at wildflowers or at the flowers in someone's garden but I've never seen them doing that either!

There was a swatch of swallows overhead this morning and, once again, it was dominated by Rough-winged Swallows although there were also a few Bank and Barn. I did not see a single Tree but there was a possible Cliff Swallow (not easy to be sure about these fast moving aerial speedsters in the early morning light).

The only terns now on the creek are Royal Terns. I don't know what they're catching -- possibly snappers (i.e. Blue Snappers) -- but I saw one with a good-sized fish being pursued by a large juvenile Great Black-backed Gull. Did not see the outcome of that chase but I fear it could not have turned out well for the tern. As to the smaller terns, I supposed they have gone to bivouac somewhere with their fellow terns prior to migration.

Eric Salzman

"I am green," said the vireo, "and a little yellow too..."

Good look at two vireos, almost certainly the same ones seen yesterday at a distance. Both birds seen this morning were Warbling Vireos -- eye stripe, head and back same color ('concolor'), light yellow underneath but whitish on the throat. (Philadelphia Vireo is similar but has a dark line through the eye and the brightest yellow is on the throat.) Philadelphia Vireo is not an impossibility but not this time.

A few flycatchers still around, mainly Eastern Wood-pewee and Eastern Phoebe; no sign of the Olive-sided. Also Cedar Waxwing, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Am Goldfinch and the usual warblers (N. Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Am Redstart),

There have been swallows coming through in recent days over the marsh with a small group of Rough-wings and a few Barn, Bank and Tree; also a Chimney Swift this morning. Otherwise the marsh has been deafeningly still and quiet.

Eric Salzman

flycatcher day

Today was flycatcher day in East Quogue. Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-pewee and, best of all, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER were all active at the head of the marsh. The Olive-sided -- which I like to call by its alternate name, Boreal Pewee (for that's what it is) -- was working the tops of some of the dead trees left behind by Sandy and with considerable success. This is the northernmost of the series of pewees that extend through the tropics into North America. It is larger than our Wood-pewee, strongly crested and has a very marked 'vest' effect on its breast; I could also see traces of the white tufts on the rump and, just to make sure we knew who we were dealing with, it actually sang once -- something like the traditional 'hip-three-beers'.

Among the other birds active in this area were eye-striped vireos, at least one of which was quite yellow underneath. Red-eyed Vireos are not that yellow. Fall Warbling Vireos might be somewhat yellow underneath; the other possibility would be Philadelphia Vireo but the birds were too far away and too active for me to be sure.

Robins, Catbirds and Mockingbirds were feeding on Tupelo berries as well as pokeberries. Other active birds included Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, House and Carolina Wrens, B-c Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and American Goldfinch.

Eric Salzman

the floral progeny of Sandy

The extraordinary spread of Pokeweed following the clearing out of low growth and underbrush by Sandy is now coming to a climax as the long purple stems of this plant sprout long sprays of waxy white flowers which turn into green and then purple berries. It all makes a lush display that seems as thought it would be appropriate in a tropical rainforest although in fact Pokeweed is a native plant. The early shoots of Pokeweed can be eaten as a wild green (boiled and with a couple of changes of water) but the mature plant -- supposedly including the berries -- is poisonous. In spite of this, pokeberries are a bonanza for birds. Yesterday morning, a Northern Mockingbird moved in to join the Catbirds, Robins, Cardinals and possibly other species (Flickers, wrens) eating the berries. All four woodpeckers were present plus White-breasted Nuthatch, Baltimore Oriole, and House Sparrows; are they also eating the berries? Also Raccoons frequent the area and are sometimes active in the daytime.

Strangely enough, there are very few Gray Squirrels here or anywhere, even where there is a plentiful crop of nuts to harvest (Hickories and Black Walnut; few acorns). What happened to the squirrels?

Meanwhile, the Pilewort is threatening to bloom with floral heads that will never open. The delicate Sea Lavender is starting to bloom in the marsh and the Seaside Goldenrod is about ready to pop. This latter plant has spread widely since the depredations of Sandy wiped out the original understory. This is a remarkable plant in more ways than one, not only because it is a hurricane survivor but also because if it is trampled or otherwise damaged, it has an ability to recover from the insults and continue its growth towards floresence.

Eric Salzman

a trip to southern Ecuador

Lorna and I are joining ornithologist/author/bird guide Gary Rosenberg on a two week trip to southern Ecuador, starting Oct. 25 in Guayaquil and ending there on November 9th. There is one space left on this trip, which is limited to 8 people. Many varied habitats will be visited from cloudforest to lowlands to the unusual Tumbes dry forest habitat and one coastal area west of Guayaquil are included as well as Podocarpus National Park.

Accommodations are in well maintained comfortable lodges within bird preserves managed by the Jocotoco Foundation, which has many preserves throughout Ecuador that harbor not only a large and wonderful variety of bird species (we talking about 100s of species!) but some very local endemic species not found elsewhere such as the Jocotoco Antpitta and the El Oro Parakeet. No guarantees but very possible!

The cost of the trip per person is $3900, which includes everything but international air fare, alcohol and other personal expenses. It is not a difficult trip. Birding is mainly on wide roads and trails, all well maintained. But it involves arising very early every morning for breakfast and departing from the lodge at 5:30 am (returning before dark, i.e.around 6 or 6:30 pm). Those with slight walking impairment  (like Lorna) will not find it difficult since birders always walk very slowly anyway! 

If anyone is interested let me know and I will have Gary contact you personally with a detailed itinerary. We have booked a round trip flight using AA and LAN Ecuador, leaving Oct. 24th (to arrive in Guayaquil one day before trip starts) from JFK at 11 am, changing planes in Miami. Return flight is direct nonstop from Guayaquil to JFK, via LAN Ecuador, arriving early evening (an excellent flight).

Eric
653-3387

Close Encounters of the Hummingbird Kind

I had three close encounters with hummingbirds this morning. The first two involved a hummingbird -- possibly the same one both times -- hovering literally inches from my face, circling around my head and following me in this manner as I walked down the trail. The third encounter was with another bird in another part of the property and was not quite as close up. These birds are consistently in the same two areas (although never before as bold) and may be locals rather than migrants.

A big wave of Catbirds came in this morning along with a rather tight group of N. Flickers and at least one Belted Kingfisher; most of these are probably migrants. Some of the other 'visitors' of recent days still remain: Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-pewee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and White-breasted Nuthatch.

A propos of my comments about Bald Eagle nesting, John Turner and Mike Bottini have both written to me about the successful Bald Eagle nesting on Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island with two birds fledged (oddly enough, the nesting was reported locally as far back as last March but there seems to have been little notice of the successful outcome). Apparently another, less noted pair on the Carmen's River has been unsuccessful for the second straight year.

Eric Salzman

bats but no owl

No sign of the Great Horned Owl. He/she/it stayed in the same pine tree roost all day yesterday hardly moving at all (he turned around once or twice on his branch and occasionally deigned to turn his head and stare down at me). The crows took occasional breathers but kept returning to the spot to chivvy their mortal enemy; all their exertions produced hardly any reaction at all. But, not surprisingly, the owl did not return to the pine tree roost where it was discovered yesterday. There were a few noisy crows flying around this morning as though they were looking for the owl and, at one point, the local Blue Jays started to call but it seemed to be much fuss about nothing.

Last night's drop in temperature produced a sunny, dewy morning with few birds. It was as if, most of the migrants of the past few days took off leaving behind just some now-familiar species: Northern Waterthrush, Commmon Yellowthroat, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, N. Flicker and Eastern Wood-pewee.

Here's a bit of good news: in recent days there have been bats flying and feeding overhead at dusk (originally discovered by my daughter Eva last week). Bats have been badly hit by something called White Nose Syndrome so many species are in trouble. I'm not a good judge of size (and I don't know the range of bat possibilities) but I would call these small to medium. They are probably Big or Little Brown Bats, the latter being the most likely.

Kathy Goldman wants to know why I'm surprised to see hummingbirds around when they are common nesters in her area. There are several reasons why I am always delighted to see hummingbirds, especially in mid-summer. Historically they were very rare nesters on Eastern Long Island and here in E. Quogue we saw them mostly in fall migration. The big change in local numbers of hummers and the obvious increase in breeding birds is undoubtedly due to the proliferation of flowering gardens and hummingbird feeders and it is a relatively recent phenomenon. Of course, it is always a pleasure to see hummingbirds no matter how often they show up!

Kathi also reports an adult Bald Eagle at Northwest Creek. I believe Bald Eagles have started to nest again on Gardiners Island and it's likely that we'll see them nesting elsewhere pretty soon; Northwest Creek is one of the likeliest spots around (remember, you heard it here first)!

Eric Salzman

big ones and little ones

A murder of crows -- a hideous racket -- led me to a tall pine in the woods where, after considerable effort and various attempted vantage points, I was finally able to see the object of their vituperation: a big raptor tucked high into the folds of the pine. At first, I could only make out a whitish undertail and a bulky gray-tawny belly, both with horizontal barring. Eventually it turned its head and looked down at me with its large ear tufts and staring yellow eyes.

"May I help you?"

"You've already helped me by turning your head and looking down at me, thank you. You're a Great Horned Owl"!

Crows really hate Great Horned Owls. They kept up their racket for at least two hours straight and, with a couple of pauses to catch their breath, they kept at it all morning and well into the afternoon. This huge Bubo owl is not uncommon north of here in the Pine Barrens but I have seen it only three times down here over the years. I would have certainly missed this one if it hadn't been for the murderous hatred of the crows.

Great Blue Heron, flushed out of the trees at the edge of the marsh, flew off with its usual great squawks.This morning's feeding flock -- well away from the owl -- consisted mainly of titmice and chickadees but there were a few other birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House and Carolina Wrens, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush and many Catbirds, most of which must have been migrants.

Eric Salzman

an unusual feeding flock

Except for one Northern Waterthrush on the edge of the marsh, I didn't see or hear a single warbler this morning but the usual chickadee-and-titmouse feeding flock had Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, a handsome male Baltimore Oriole still in breeding plumage, a female or juvenile Scarlet Tanager and, of all things, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Last night there were Chimney Swifts overhead at dusk in Riverhead.

Goldenrod is late this year but there is a stand of Rough-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) blooming just off the property. Also Rose Mallow is in bloom but, alas, our marsh is too salt-tidal for this native and spectacular hibiscus (most of the ones around are garden plants, often white with red centers).

Mole diggings are everywhere and there are two families of deer with seven or eight individuals including antlered stages, does and spotted fawns. The threat these pose to our garden is, fortunately, non-existant since we don't garden.

Eric Salzman

hummerbirds

At least two East Quoguers tell me that they have summer hummers that are probably nesting nearby. However most of these birds are feeding on garden flowers (or, possibly, hummingbird feeders). We have neither here but there are gardens and at least one hummingbird feeder on Randall Lane so it is possible that the hummers are taking advantage of these resources (although I have never seen it myself). This morning's hummerbird was a male on the old right-of-way, the first male hummer seen in a while.

Prairie Warbler (seen sporadically this summer), a chattering Baltimore Oriole (handsome male still in breeding plumage), a Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch and House Finch were the morning's best birds; most of the rest were the same ones I've been seeing in the feeding flocks all this week: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat. White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, etc. As usual, Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice led the parade.

Eric Salzman

hummers galore

For the second time in the past few days, I've seen two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzing around near the head of the marsh. These might be two young birds from a local nest but it's difficult to be sure. I also saw another hummingbird near the pond, probably a different bird a good distance away. All of these are female-type birds that may be juveniles. The persistence of hummers in these two areas is striking! Wonder what they feed on. There is a neighbor on Randall Lane with a hummingbird feeder but I have never seen a hummingbird use it!

Today's feeding flocks, led as usual by Black-capped Chickadees, included many of the same species seen in recent days: Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Downy Woodpecker with Tufted Titmice, Northern Cardinals and the two wrens joining in. This collection of birds seems to be quite stable for now. Similarly, the birds on the creek are also relatively stable with both egrets, Great Blue Herons and four terns (Royal, Forster's, Common and Least). A Belted Kingfisher, formerly a regular on the creek but not a common resident any more, made a short appearance.

Eric Salzman

a passing storm

Very high tides synched with the full moon and flooded the marsh as well as Dune Road. A stormy night did not produce much rain although other parts of L.I. were flooded out! Stormy weather in the morning was followed by steamy sunshine.

The entertaining feeding flocks of the past few days have not been in evidence. Yesterday, there were a few Black-capped Chickadees and a messy warbler in molt that was almost impossible to identify (usually I call such birds young Pine Warblers but this one looked more like a young Black-throated Blue with a single white wing patch instead of a pair of wing bars).

There were at least two hummingbirds -- one female type and one possible young bird -- in different places near the head of the marsh. There are still White-breasted Nuthatches and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers around along with Spotted Sandpipers on the pond, visible only when the tide is low.

A Mourning Dave came shooting up and out across the creek followed by a fast-moving accipiter -- much larger than the dove and there easily ID'd as a Cooper's Hawk. It crossed the creek without catching the dove and disappeared into the Pine Neck woods.

Eric Salzman

nuts, thistles, turtles and Turkey Vulture

Hickory nuts falling all over the place and Black Walnut nuts have appeared as well (now if I could only figure out how to get the meat out of these things). The big thistle is in full bloom and I have discovered several other smaller plants scattered here and there in woodland areas that were cleared out by Sandy. Same for the Wood Sage or Germander which seems to be more widespread after Sandy than before.

Several Box Turtles have appeared eating a brown-topped, yellowish gilled mushroom that we call Fetid Russula (not sure if this is the correct ID but this common mushroom has a rather unpleasant almondy smell (so it may be Almond-smelling Russula not Fetid Russula). Although the smell is not unpleasant I don't think this is an edible mushroom -- except to turtles.

A Turkey Vulture wheeling overhead yesterday aroused the ire of the local crows but soon soared off. This morning's birds were similar to those of the past few days -- Northern Waterthrushes, Common Yellowthroats, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Downy Woodpecker and Flicker; also at least two Spotted Sandpipers on the pond and a continuing parade of Royal Terns on the creek

Eric Salzman

What's black and white and fed all over?

Today was Black-and-white Warbler day. There were half a dozen of these birds -- males and females -- in a single spot and at least as many elsewhere on the property, all working the trees, branches, leaves and bushes for insect prey. There was also a clutch of House Wrens in and around the head of the marsh although it was impossible to say whether these were members of an extended local family or early migrants.

Northern Waterthrush is still here along with numbers of Common Yellowthroats -- again whether local or migrant is a difficult call. Three woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy and Flicker), an Eastern Wood-pewee and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Several Great Blue Herons including three on the marsh.

The local Carolina Wrens, almost as numerous as the House Wrens, are singing away in a curious mixture of their usual rhythmic song and a variety of other rather formless melodic bits -- perhaps the attempts of young birds to sing.

Later in the morning, we organized a clamming expedition (successful) and, on the way back to the house, I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the season. As readers of this blog undoubtedly know, Monarchs are in big trouble so it was a pleasure to see even one!

Eric Salzman

a mystery warbler and some less mysterious others

Dozens, if not hundreds, of birds, were active in the live and dead trees back of the pond early this morning. Although dominated by Black-capped Chickadees and some Tufted Titmice, there was also a fair variety of warblers with Black-and-white, Pine, Prairie, Am Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush. Also Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Pewee, House and Carolina Wrens, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers,

A gray warbler-sized bird with two bright wingbars, glimpsed in the trees, had me stumped and, try as I might, I could not find it again or match it up with any warbler or vireo known to me. The closest guess would be a female or young Cerulean Warbler but I did not note any green on the back of this bird which was, in any case, half-hidden in dense green foliage. Unless I can find it again and get more field marks, it will have to go into the category of one that got away!

Lots of insects. Katydids have been calling since the beginning of the month and there has been a variety of butterflies although, sadly enough, not a single Monarch.

Eric Salzman

little hummer, big hawk

Noisy Blue Jays roused up a big female Cooper's Hawk this morning which flew into a tree right over my head and perched prettily for some first-class hawk viewing. This was an adult bird with broad red lines on her chest, a long banded tail with a rather wide white tip and a fierce reddish eye. The Blue Jays did not find it hidden in the tree canopy and the bird actually changed place a couple of times without being seen by the jays (but always square in my binoculars).

There were a few other birds around including a whole gang of Common Yellowthroats (perhaps a single family), a Black-and-white Warbler, both wrens (House and Carolina), Eastern Phoebe (two or three), White-breasted Nuthatch and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird near the head of the marsh. An eerie quiet reigns on the marsh and marsh edges these days with the virtually total disappearance of the Bay Avenue Purple Martin colony and local Barn Swallows plus the abandonment of breeding territories by the Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles.

Eric Salzman

a Cliff Swallow (maybe)

Took granddaughter Juliette yesterday to the Connecticut Avenue canoe drop-off point for the Quogue Wildlife Refuge's annual Peconic paddle and then, with Eileen Schwinn made an unusual midsummer visit to Ex-Grumman/EPCAL. Although we saw many of the expected birds (Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Barn Swallows, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark in the grasslands, American Robins, Eastern Towhees, Eastern Wood-Pewee in the wooded areas), most of the birds were in their post-nesting phase and remained quiet and well-hidden. A trip down to the shore revealed a good number of Royal Terns and a few Black-bellied Plovers at Pike's Beach (plus the usual small shorebirds). There was little activity at Tiana Beach but there were some shorebirds in a muddy patch south of Dune Road (Semipalmated Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers).

The migration of swallows -- mostly Barn -- along Dune Road continued apace. A little excitement was provided by a swallow perched on a wire that appeared to me to have the features of a Cliff Swallow: short tail, white markings on a grayish back, a light patch on the forehead and a pale collar. However the forehead patch was not brilliant white and the bird was mostly facing away from us and preening constantly (and observed through the car window). I never saw it fly. I have seen Cliff Swallow on Eastern Long Island just one or two times so it does still occur out here (it once bred but no more). Wish I was a little more secure about this one!

Eric Salzman

chocolate wrens

Northern Waterthrush, Pine Warbler (immatures), Yellow Warbler (immatures mostly), Common Yellowthroat (also immatures), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker were all in this morning's feeding flocks along with Chickadees and Titmice. The House Wrens may not be local birds as they are strikingly chocolate in color while our locals are very pale in comparison (House Wrens are quite migratory unlike the Carolina Wren which is with us all year round).

Eric Salzman

a waterthrush and a night-heron

Northern Waterthrush is here; it apparently arrived last night. This is a warbler which does not breed on Long Island but arrives here from the north every summer in the middle or end of July or, as this year, early August. These summer visitors are often here throughout August. Like the Royal Terns (which come from the south), these birds make an intermediate stop to feed and fatten up before they continue with their 'real' migration south to warmer climes.

A young night-heron was in the pond this morning and, from its upright stance and a few other features, I deduced that it was a Yellow-crowned and not the more common Black-crowned Night-Heron. Last year there was an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron on the pond almost every day but I haven't seen a one this year. There are at least two young Green Herons here, birds that were probably born in a nest in our woods. Both white egrets are regulars and there are a couple of Great Blue Herons on the creek. All four local terns were on the creek yesterday and this morning: Royal, Common Forster's and Least; they're all easy to pick out by call (I usually hear them first and then find them by sight).

Although there are a few Purple Martins is still in the vicinity, most of the Bay Avenue birds have vacated the colony site in preparation for migration. I now think that the noisy display over the house the other evening was some kind of preliminary social activity leading to the beginning of migration for the birds in this colony. Also, I note that, with swallow migration is in full swing on the beach, there are very few swallows over the marsh and creek on this side of the bay. Like the shorebirds (which they resemble in many ways), these aerial insect eaters have already begun their migration.

There was a small family of three Eastern Phoebes by the pond this morning and there are feeding flocks moving around the place dominated by Black-capped Chickadees or Tufted Titmice (Titmouses?), apparently each from one or two families. These small flocks have guests, Seen yesterday and this morning: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow Warblers, Pine Warblers, an American Redstart, both wrens, and Downy Woodpeckers. At least one of the White-breasted Nuthatches in residence has a gray rather than a black cap suggesting that it may be a juvenile (in a plumage not illustrating in the field guides).

The rains brought fungi, mostly Lactarius volemus (Milky Caps) and Chanterelles, both good eating mushrooms.

Eric Salzman

good season for Royals, slow for wildflowers

Royal Terns came up the creek last night and again this morning and this afternoon, confirming their (now annual) arrival from the south. As far as I know, they still do not breed on Long Island but a sizeable contingent moves north from their southern breeding grounds to hang out in our waters every summer.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers turned up this morning, another of those local breeders which is either moving around locally before migrating or actually in the process of moving south. Gnatcatchers were a rarity here in the last century but subsequently established themselves as one of those southern species expanding its range to the north in an era of climate change.

House Wrens also reappeared after a long period of silence. Red-winged Blackbirds have essentially abandoned their territories around the marsh but there are many birds -- mostly young of the year -- still hanging around and only beginning to flock up. Only the year-round birds -- Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow -- are still singing on territory. By the way, Carolina Wren and the so-called 'Northern' Cardinal are two more southern birds that established themselves here as common breeding birds only in the second half of the last century.

This is a slow season for wildflowers. There is Wood Sage (or Germander), Queen Anne's Lace, a ton of Pokeweed, Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia; mostly garden escapes), Coreopsis (Tickseed), St. John's Wort and some kind of Geranium (Wild Geranium?) -- mostly past their prime. Some of these are on or adjacent to the property; others were seen on Dune Road yesterday.

The Bull or Field Thistle is producing flowerheads at a great rate; about a dozen or more so far with more than a dozen yet to come; this single plant is about 9 feet high with multiple branches.

Eric Salzman